Tag: HIV

96 percent of People On ART Still on First Line Regimen

Healthtimes

Director, AIDS and TB Programme in the Ministry of Health and Child Care  Dr. Owen Mugurungi says 96 percent of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) are still on the first line regimen owing to comprehensive HIV treatment and prevention efforts by government and development partners towards fighting the epidemic. By Michael Gwarisa Addressing delegates at the handover of  new ART sites and Pharmacy stores in the capital, Dr Mgurungi said Zimbabwe had made strides in reducing the impact of the epidemic and improving ART adherence…

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UNDP Hands Over ART Sites and Pharmacy Stores To Health Ministry

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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) this morning handed over 40 new and refurbished Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) sites and 52 Pharmacy stores aimed at improving Tuberculosis (TB) infection control among people living with HIV. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes at the back of indications that the old ART sites and pharmaceutical stores were struggling to cope with increased demand of ART services as well as TB medication services owing to the high TB and HIV burden the country is still faced with. Speaking at the official handover ceremony on…

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Farm Employers Bar Workers From Collecting ARVs

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FARM owners and mangers in Mashonalnd East are reportedly barring HIV positive employees from going for their Anti Retro Viral (ARVs) drugs refill run at nearest health institutions owing to hectic schedules in farming communities, HealthTimes has learnt. By Michael Gwarisa According to revelations made during a recently held National Aids Council (NAC) media tour in Mashonland East, most farm workers are not given off days to collect their drugs hence making it difficult for people living and HIV and on ART to adhere to their meds. Speaking to Journalists,…

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Zim Wont Be Adopting New ARVs Soon- Minister

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HEALTH and Child Care minister, Dr David Parirenyatwa says Zimbabwe wont be stampeded into adopting new Anti Retro Viral drugs (ARVs) by the donor community, HealthTimes has learnt. By Michael Gwarisa His response comes at a time when most countries in the high HIV burden zones are moving towards embracing new ARV drugs which bring convenience and comfort to people living with HIV. At an international scale, a number of new ARV drugs are being rolled out with some African countries such as Kenya and South Africa having already agreed…

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UNAIDS Founding Father Urges Zim To Prioritise Research To End AIDS

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UNAIDS founding executive director, Baron Professor Peter Piot who is in the country to discuss various partnership opportunities with the purpose of strengthening research capacity in areas of health and science, has implored Zimbabwe to prioritise research if it is to  defeat the AIDS pandemic. By Michael Gwarisa The call comes at the back of an impending adolescent epidemic which has shifted its focus from the adult populace to the adolescents and young people groups, posing a threat to the 2030 targets of eradicating AIDS. Speaking at a reception ceremony…

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HIV Infections To Rise In Young Women In Sub Saharan Africa- Experts Blame Blessers

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PUBLIC health experts have warned of a rise in new infections in young girls in Sub Saharan Africa owing to various factors chief among them being poverty which exposes them to the insatiable desires of older men who have greater financial muslcle. Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Caprisa’s associate scientific director said, “You’ve got this ongoing cycle” of transmission fed by a constant supply of girls reaching teenhood. In a 2016 study, she and other researchers at Caprisa found that women ages 15 to 24 in Vulindlela , South Africa and a…

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Moonlight Testing Effective Tool In HIV Hotspots

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PEOPLE  coming for HIV, Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and cervical cancer screening services during moonlight testing sessions are more compared to those who seek Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services during the day at major hotspots in Mashonaland East. By Michael Gwarisa in Mash East The program is dubbed moonlight because the tests take place at night to help protect those who fear being stigmatised by being seen visiting the centres during the day. According to the National Aids Council District Aids Office for Mrehwa, the open air daylight session at…

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CATS Driving ART Adherence In Children At Grassroots

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COMMUNITY Adolescents Treatment Supporters (CATS) an Africaid, Zvandiri initiative which focuses on promoting  HIV prevention, treatment and care for children living with HIV, has broken societal barriers to prevention through initiating well planned treatment adherence and tracking systems. By Michael Gwarisa in Mashonaland East Speaking during a National AIDS Council (NAC) Media tour, Zvandiri Mentor, Tinashe Chigadza said the CATS program had proven to be a force to reckon in promoting HIV prevention, treatment and adherence to medication amongst young people in Mashonalnd East. “My main role is to supervise…

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MyTherapy App Helps HIV Patients Adhere To ARV Timetables

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HIV prevalence remains high in Zimbabwe, with recent statistics indicating that there are approximately 1.3 million people living with HIV in the country. In 2016, there were 40 000 new HIV infections and 30 000 AIDS-related deaths. However, there is some hopeful news amidst these worrying statistics. By Tracey Ruff Guest Writer Firstly, around 75% of adults living in Zimbabwe are on antiretroviral treatment – a number that is relatively high when compared to other countries in Africa – and secondly, international donor sources are channelling money into helping the…

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HIV Prevalence Rates Declines In Mashonaland- NAC

Healthtimes

Mashonaland West province has recorded a decline in the HIV prevalence rate and new incidences due to the scaling up of various prevention and treatment programmes. The Herald: Mashonaland West Bureau According to figures released by the National Aids Council (NAC) provincial office in Chinhoyi, about 138 981 adults and children were living with HIV in 2016, of which six percent were forecast to be children under the age of 14. The report also showed that the HIV prevalence rate of adults between the age of 15 and 49 had…

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